Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1887-05-27
OUR HOUSE HUNTING.

OUR HOUSE HUNTING.
"Ts is too badi" Isay half crying Il really
can't stand it much longer. We shall have to
make another change"
making six in five MONTHS" says Jack.
II wouldn't mind it if we seemed to better
ourselves; but can't see that we do. If our
rooms are not dirty, the parlor is. If the
other boarders are not noisy, there is sure to
be piano next door, o., vocalist or French
horn across the street, or church bell around
the corner, or something equally as objection
able. Here, where it is clean and quiet, we
are half starved. What do you say to flat,
Ethel?"
ooh, not fat" cry, in horror II saw
enough of that at Aunt Mary's She had a
piano below her which went all day and half
the night, and the gentleman above her had
the pleasing habit of coming home in the small
hours and dancing double shuttle in his
boots. Then the trouble with servants, and
the way the elevator gets stuck, and the
danger of fire Oh, Jack, not flat, what
ever we do! never, never could come down
one of those dreadful fire escapes on dark
night"
house in the country?" says Jack.
IA house in the countryr' cry. "But do
you really mean it? Could we afford it.,
Jack?"
II really think we might" says Jack, pom
dering. "My salary is to be raised next
month, and take it for all in all, don't be-
ieve that small house in a country town
would cost much more than our board and
WASHING tho aitu 0n1u 70.
Injuries, you know, little woman A small
could get along?"
"Get alongs Oh, Jackl" I cry, ut would
be heaven To go out of this hot, dirty city
that always did hate, and to have a little
house all to ourselves, where I can potter
garden-just little bit of a one, Jack-oh!"
gasp for breath, unable to express the rap
ture which fills my soul at the idea.
Jack looks at me, half laughing, half sad,
wholly surprised. "Why, Ethel, I had no
idea you felt like that about it," he says
kindly. "Why did you never tell me that you
hate the city so much?"
"Why should II" say. II thought you
had to be here, and-and-I don't hate the
city as much as I love you Jack. But you
ehileA OIlO NOullo1 CoSStuCI! ftlll dSSdll L
pause and clasp my hands in speeches. &C.
stasy.
So it falls out that one bright day, Jack
having obtained leave of absence from the
office, we start together on house hunting
expedition 1t has taken us long to decide
where to fix our abode, but we have at length
settled upon the town of Medield as the very
place for us. 1t is healthy, it is pretty, the
;. MI = ;c 10
city to enable Jack to go in and out every
day. All things considered, and, of course,
provided we can find suitable house, Med
field seems to be the very place for us. Jack
has provided himself with lists of houses
from several agents, and we charter hack
at the station and start upon our explora-
Uions.
Really these house agents appear to have
had most singular ideas. Jack has carefully
told them what we want-a small house with
modern improvements, rent not to exceed q
certain very modest sum. The first house
before which our hack pauses is an elaborate
affair standing in rather extensive grounds
1t has Conservatives, bay windows veran-
das and all manner of fanciful decorations.
"Jack," | whisper softly, 'however low
the rent may be, this will never do for U.s.
We should be as hopelessly lost in it as two
mice i'll a dog kennel"
Jack laughs. "You need not trouble your
self, my dear" he says. ave will take the
next house on our list. The agent has evil
IDENTIFY made mistake"
The next is a small, plain four square
house, which looks more promising until we
discover that it has no modern improvements
"Any range?" | ask, timidly.
II said 10 modern improvements, an
swered the tenant, stiffiy.
"Why, Jack,"I gasp, "is range a mod
ern improvement? l never knew that be-
fore" At which both Jack and the tenant
laugh, and we promptly leave.
The next house has no closets; the one
after that has a cellar kitchen far below the
level of the street, damp and musty for want
of light and air.
II could never eat anything that came out
of that kitchen" cry, aghast.
The morning is wearing on and no house to
suit us has been found yet.
"I'll tell you what, little woman" says
Jack, 1--WE shall never get on at this rate
Suppose we separate There are two lists
left; I will take one, and you the other Then
we will meet at the hotel at 1 O'Clock and
compare notes over our lunch How will
that doc"
1t will do very well, think; so second
hack is called, and Jack and I start on our
separate ways.
There is no use in dwelling upon all my dis
appointments; but at last-at last l find the
very house which l have seen in my dreams.
Small, snug, convenient it is, am con
vinced the very place for us. Time is just
up as I leave its door, and l drive to the
meeting place with heart swelling with san
isfaction, and a very decided hope in my
mind that Jack has not been equally FORUM
ate; not that begrudge him any success, but
this house suits so perfectly that I am quite
sure no other can do as well, and the compar-
ison and discussion between the two would be
only so much time lost. My heart sinks at
the sight of Jacks beaming face as he comes
forward to help me out, and I am quite pre-
pared for his first words :
II have found the very place to suit us,
Ethel"
$50 have l." I say, family; but Jack does
not stop to hear me-
"Just such house as we decided upon
small and compact, yet with plenty of room
for us in it"
at can't suit us as well as mine,"I cry.
"Mine has three good bed rooms on the second
floor"
$50 has mine, says Jack, "and another lit
tie room besides, which 1 thought would
make canital den for me y
"Mine has large light closet, which will
be just the thing for a store ROOM" say.
"Mine is only five minutes walk from the
station" says Jack. "Just a convenient
distance for me-"
milne is some distance from the station. I
am afraid" say; "but the lady who lives
there now says that her son goes in and out
every day. And oh! Jack, it is quite in the
country. The street is heavily shaded with
frees. and there are no houses onnosife-onIv